Arizona passes toughest immigrant legislation
Ariz. Gov. Janet Napolitano signed the Fair and Legal Employment Act, which prohibits employers from hiring illegal immigrants. Starting Jan. 1, employers must check employees' legal status through a federal database. Employers who violate the law will incur suspension of their business license for the 1st violation and permanent revocation for a 2nd. Opposition to the law has been swift and critics are planning a legal challenge to the law's constitutionality.
Garden mum, perennial growers: watch for leafminers
Growers of garden mums should be on the lookout for damage caused by the leafminer Liriomyza trifolii, which infests many floral and vegetable crops, especially members of the Compositae family. Univ. of Conn. ext. hort. and greenhouse IPM specialist Leanne Pundt said to look for narrow mines that wind around leaves, with some brown tip dieback. Herbaceous perennial growers have also noted seeing Liriomyza leafminer damage on Helenium, Leucanthemum and Gaillardia as well as others in recent years. Some growers use yellow sticky tape or ribbon to mass-trap adults. Once larvae are inside the mines, insecticides with systemic or translaminar activity work best.
GM tomatoes take on different scents
Researchers in Israel have found a way to genetically engineer tomatoes to have the scent of lemon and rose. One of the transgenic tomatoes includes a gene from a variety of lemon basil, Ocimum basilicum. Surprisingly the scents have done well in tests with volunteers. The GM tomatoes are lighter red because they have only half as much lycopene as conventional tomatoes. The GM tomatoes have higher levels of volatile terpenoids, which possess antimicrobial, pesticidal and antifungal properties, which may result in better insect/pathogen resistance and longer shelflife.
High thrips populations found in Maryland
Thrips are at an all-time high this year in greenhouses and in outdoor cut flowers, reports Univ. of Md. Coop. Ext. Thrips are showing up on Aztec verbena, mandevilla, marigolds, hibiscus, geraniums, vinca, impatiens and sweet potato vine. Damage is also being seen on vegetable transplants. A very high number have been counted on field-grown verbena. The thrips predator Orius spp. (minute pirate bug) has been showing progress on cosmos.
Make your operation Lean efficient
If you are looking for a way to make your business more efficient and profitable, Lean may hold the answer. Pioneered by Toyota Co., Lean manufacturing reduces costs, eliminates waste and improves profitability. There will be 2 Lean workshops at the OFA Short Course on July 14. Another session, Introduction to Lean Greenhouse on July 17, will look at how hort. companies have implemented Lean to reduce costs and how its principles can be applied to any size company.
PRO Institute to cover postharvest issues
A PRO Institute will be held Aug. 12-15 in Tahoe City, Calif. Subjects include advanced care and handling, quality measurements, factors that influence postharvest quality, cold-chain issues, postharvest disease prevention and consumer reactions to floral products and services. Attendees have opportunities to discuss other topics of interest.
Worth a visit
The nursery business deserves its own action/adventure serial, "The Great Nursery Adventure: A Year in the Life of Greene Family Nursery." This month, the family faces an insect invasion. Only on GreenBeam.com.
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• Valent
• Goldsmith Seeds
• Yoder
• Dramm
Valent Booth 1512, 2007 OFA Short Course, July 14-17, 2007, Columbus, OH
Think...Cora™ Vinca for strength and beauty in the garden! To order, call your favorite supplier. Bred by Goldsmith.
Available only from Blooms of Bressingham®, the Tutti Frutti Series of Achilleas have compact habits that make them ideal for pot crops.
ColorStorm hose. Quality Hand Watering Begins at the TAP.
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